Load bearing flexible conduit

Abstract

A load bearing flexible conduit system for use in a body of water and adapted for deployment from a reel located on a water going vessel into the body of water is disclosed. The system comprises a number of lengths of load bearing flexible conduit, each length of load bearing flexible conduit provided with an inner layer having a throughbore and a load bearing outer layer. A joint for connecting the lengths together has a body having a longitudinal axis and a throughbore and at least one flexible coupling to permit at least one of the ends of the respective first and second lengths of load bearing flexible conduit to move relative to the longitudinal axis of the joint.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A length of load bearing flexible conduit for use in a body of water and adapted for deployment from a reel located on a water going vessel into the body of water, the load bearing flexible conduit comprising an inner layer having a throughbore for carrying fluids and a load bearing outer layer and a further outer protective covering;
 wherein the load bearing flexible conduit is flexible such that it is capable of being stored, prior to use, on a reel and is further capable of being at least partially payed out from the reel into the body of water during use; 
 wherein the the inner layer is leak proof; 
 wherein the load bearing flexible conduit further comprises a termination at each end, wherein each termination comprises a load transfer mechanism to transfer load from the termination to the load bearing outer layer of the length of the load bearing flexible conduit wherein the load transfer mechanism comprises: 
 
       an insert; and
 a generally cylindrical ferrule member secured to the respective end of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit and to the insert by being crimped thereto 
 wherein the respective load bearing outer layer of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit is located over the ferrule member; 
 a generally cylindrical body member having an enlarged diameter portion, 
 wherein the enlarged diameter portion further comprises an angled inner surface against which is located an angled member in the form of a wedge-shaped member; and 
 a cap member secured to the generally cylindrical body member, 
 wherein said cap member comprises an inwardly projecting shoulder which abuts against an outer end of the ferrule member and thereby transmits axially directed force between the ferrule member and the cap member, and 
 wherein an outermost end of the load bearing outer layer is embedded in the wedge-shaped member between the ferrule member and the angled inner surface and is further secured between the angled inner surface and the cap member such that the load is capable of being transferred from the termination to the ferrule member to the cap member to the generally cylindrical body member to the wedge-shaped member to the load bearing outer layer. 
 
     
     
       2. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the termination also comprises a connection mechanism to connect the termination and thereby the load bearing flexible conduit to a connection mechanism on a joint adapted to couple two lengths of load bearing flexible conduit together via adjoining ends of the said two lengths such that the throughbore of the joint is in sealed fluid communication with the throughbore of the respective length of load bearing flexible conduit. 
     
     
       3. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the load transfer mechanism also includes a generally cylindrical body member having an enlarged diameter portion wherein the enlarged diameter portion comprises an angled inner surface against which can be located an angled member. 
     
     
       4. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 3 , wherein the angled member is formed from a potting compound. 
     
     
       5. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 3 , wherein the load transfer mechanism further comprises embedding at least a portion of the load bearing member in the angled member between the ferrule member and the angled inner surface. 
     
     
       6. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 5 , wherein the load transfer mechanism further comprises a cap member wherein the outermost end of the load bearing outer layer is secured between one end of the said angled member and the cap member such that load is capable of being transferred from the termination to the ferrule member to the cap member to the body member to the angled member and to the load bearing outer layer(s). 
     
     
       7. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 6 , wherein the load bearing flexible conduit is incorporated in a system which is suitable for delivering fluids between a vessel on the surface of the sea to a subsea structure located below the sea such as on the seabed in relatively close proximity to a hydrocarbon well. 
     
     
       8. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the load bearing outer layer comprises an arrangement of aramid fibres and wherein the arrangement of aramid fibres comprises a braided arrangement of fibres formed in a layer along the longitudinal length of the load bearing flexible conduit on an outer surface of the inner layer(s). 
     
     
       9. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 8 , wherein the braided arrangement of fibres are formed in a criss-cross arrangement where a number of the fibres are wound in a first helical arrangement around the outer surface of the inner layer in one direction and a number of fibres are wound in a second helical arrangement in the other direction such that each helically arranged fibre crosses each of the other oppositely directed fibres by passing over or under the oppositely arranged fibres in a repeating manner. 
     
     
       10. A length of load bearing flexible conduit according to  claim 1 , wherein the load bearing outer layer(s) is covered along most of its longitudinal length but not including the ends thereof by having an outer sheath extruded over itself, where the outer sheath provides a protective covering to the load bearing layer(s); and wherein the outer protective covering does not cover the ends of the load bearing outer layer.